Zeroing device for bathroom type scales



Dec. 15, 1964 s. B. HANSSEN 3,161,244

ZEROING DEVICE FOR BATHROOM TYPE SCALES Filed June 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 15, 19 s. B. HANSSEN ZEROING DEVICE FOR BATHROOM TYPE SCALES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15, 1961 United States Patent MLES Claims.

This invention relates to a platform scale of the bat room type and more particularly'to a novel zeroing device in such a scale for moving the indicator relative to a datum line.

Most bathroom scales now in use have cooperating levers which receive the weigt of the person standing on the scale. The levers are permitted to deflect a given amount against a yielding counterbalancing means and an indicating mechanism moves proportionally to the deflection for visual indication of the magnitude of the weight.

Zeroing devices used on scales in the past have generally moved the levers relative to the sensing means in order to make the printed scale move to a zero position. Some scales in order to reduce weight and number of parts, have had no provision for moving the levers, thus having no provision for moving the scale to an initial zero setting. Such scales were set when manufactured and the customer owner of the scale could not maize any adjustment. Applicant has provided a novel structure which moves the sensing means relative to the l vers and maintains an accurate indicator during the normal life span of the scale while still avoiding the weight and numerous parts used in prior adjustable scales.

it is the principal object of this invention to provide a new and improved zeroing device for bathroom type scales.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved ba hroom scale having the sensing means supported independently of the weight-receiving levers.

Another object is to provide a bathroom scale haing a structure for adjusting the position of sensing means relative to weight-receiving levers providing a means for Zeroing t e scale. I

A further object is to provide a simplified and economical structure for moving a bathroom scale indicator to a zero position.

Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious from the tollowin" description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 a top plan view of a bathroom type scale having the invention therein;

PlGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the scale with the top and levers removed and showing the support mechanism for the weight indicating means;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the scale taken substantially as indicated along line 3-3 or. FIGURE 2 illustrating the lever counter aiancing means and associated sensing means parts;

FlGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the scale taken substantially as indicated along line 4- 5 of FlG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of the right hand end of the support shown in PEG- UllE 2;

PlG-URE 6 is an enlarged plan view of the scale with the upper platform and indicating dial removed; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of support showing a variation of the indicating mechanism adjustment support. v

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FiGURES l and 6, there is shown a preferred embodiment of ti present invention as employed in a baththe scale is provided with a base supporting a pair of cooperating weight-receiving levers. A decorative cover or platform fits telescopically over the base and is supported by the levers. A weight indicating mechanism is provided which is responsive to the deflection of the lovers and carries a dial which may be viewed through an opening in the cover as it passes a stationary datum line to indicate the amount of weight placed on the platform. The present invention is concerned with a new and improved zeroing device to bring the dial to a visible of Zero with no weight on the platform.

in particular, the parts referred to above comprise a base, generall indicated at 10 (FIG. 3) formed as a stamped sheet metal member having an upstanding peripheral edge 11 entirely around the base. The shape of the base may be chosen to make a particular aesthetic appearance of the scale but is in the presentinstance, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, generally rectangular. The sheet metal base is adapted to rest directly upon a floor or r'loor covering and support the mechanism of the scale therein. The mechanism support takes the form or upstanding posts or projections 12 generally located in the four corner portions of the base. Each post 12 has a V-shaped section for knife edged cradling of the end of a lever. The posts may be attached to the base by ear 13 secured directly to the metal of the base with suitable fasteners or as by spot welding (FIG. 6).

The weight sensing mechanism of the present scale consists of a pair of levers arranged in overlapping fashion and resting upon the upstanding posts at the corners of the base. A T-shaped lever, generally shown at 1 3, is formed of. two sections, i5 and 165, secured together to form a one piece member for all purposes. Section 15 forming the cross piece of the T has rear edge corner portions 17'' constructed to provide knife edges to pivotally rest in the V section of a pair of upstanding posts at one end of the base and longitudinally extending section 16 is channel-shaped having downwardly turned sides of slightly diminishing depth for the counterbalanced supported end 38 or" the lever. A generally t -shaed lever is positioned above the T-shaped lever 14 and has end portions 2t constructed to provide knife edges to pivotally rest in the V-section of another set of upstanding posts at the front or head of the base. The apex of the V-shaped lever 19 has a downwardly extending boss 23 which pivotally engages and rests upon an intermediate portion of the channel-shaped section 16 of the T-shaped lever.

A nlatforrn 22 for the scale is provided with tour depending legs (not shown) each having a Vshaped end adaptsd to rest on knife-edged metal hangers 23 supported on the edge 24 or an opening provided in the levers for such purpose. The platform ZZhas a dependskl't 25 (PEG. 3) at its periphery which extends over in se hiding most of it from view. The platform provi es a weight-receiving surface upon which a person may stand. The weight is transferred by the hangers 23 to the levers causing the levers to pivot toward the base. A lens 2d is carried in the flat surface portion of the platform through which a Weight indicating dial 2'? may be viewed. The weight sensed may be read as that amount shown on the dial under an indicia marker 28 carried on the platform.

The weight indicating mechanism is mounted on a channel support 29 (FlG'Z) adjustably secured to the base at a position generally centrally located between the upstanding posts. The mechanism includes a weight in- 32. The pinion gear 32. is turned by a substantially horizontally extending rack 3.3.which is 'votally secured to a bellcrank lever 34. rue bell crank 34 comprises a generally U-shapcd bracket pivotally supported on a rod 35 extending transversely through the bell cranl: sides and pivotally journaled on the upstanding sides of the channel support for the indicating mechanism 29. A bar 37 is secured to the outermost end of the bell crank and is arranged to engage the upper side of an upstanding car 38 on the lever 16 so as to move downwardly with and in response to a lever deflection. The rack 33 is pivotally connected at ill to the lower end of the bell crank to move with movement of the levers and bell crank and is held in engagement with pinion 32 by means of a spring 41 connected at 42 to the channel support 29 for the indicating mechanism and connected at 43 to the rack. As shown in FIGURE 3 the bell crank movement will be in a clockwise direction when the levers are deflected downwardly by weight on the scale.

A coiled compression spring 39, disposed vertically between the base it and the counterbalanced end 13 of the primary levers, accurately counterbalances the weight receiving levers. The end portion 18 of the lever 16 is formed so that the coils of the spring 39 may be threaded into the lever permitting accurate factory calibration of each spring to its particular levers, platform, pivot points, etc.

The upstanding our 38 is integral with the lever to and forms a bearing under the cross bar 37 on the upper end of tie bell crank assuring that deflection of the levers allows movement of the bell crank and indicating mechanism therewith. Thus the levers and spring 39 are mounted in the scale independently of the indicating mechanism. The only connection between the two is the abutting contact of the upstanding ear 38 with the cross bar 37.

The bottom of the coil spring 3? is seated upon a triangularly shaped block 44 having diver ing upper surfaces 45 and 46 which extend upwardly into the interspace of the coil spring engaging the coils at opposite points, thereby preventing the collapse of the coils of the spring upon themselves during compression to affect the effective length of the spring. The calibration of the scale, once accomplished, wil remain accurate throughout the useful life of the scale;

The present invention is concerned primarily with novel structure in the scale for moving the indicating mechanism support relative to the base and weight sensing means. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, the indicating mechanism support 2h extends substantially the entire length of the scale, the back end of the support being connected to the base it by rivet 4 7. At the other end of the indicating mechanism support, screw 4S is threadably received into base iii and supports the upper channel section 4-9 of the indicating mechanism support. Spring surrounds screw 48 and pushes against base ill at one end and threaded portion 51 of the support acting as a nut to receive the screw 4%. This arrangement insures that the support moves when screw 48 is turned and prevents accidental adjustment of the zeroing device. When screw 43 is turned the entire indicating mechanism is moved vertically in the scale so that the pivotal bell crank support is moved up or down relative to the levers, thereby turning the dial and permitting it to be adjusted to zero position relative to the datum line 2%. This structure allows the indicating mechanism support to be ad past depending skirt 25 and allows simple and easy ad justme'nt of the scale to a zero position.

The foregoin detailed descri tion has been ivcn for b clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limi- (i. tations should be understood therefrom, for some modification will be obvious to those skilled the art.

I claim:

1. A platform scale, comprising:

a scale base;

weight sensing mechanism supported on said base including levers pivoted on the base, a weight supporting platform carried on the levers and spring suspension means for the levers providing movement of the levers relative to the base in proportion to magnitude of weight placed upon the platform;

an indicating mechanism for visually indicating the amount of weight on the platform and a support therefor mounted in the scale base,

said indicating mechanism including a movable Weight indicator member, mechanical linkage means biased into contact with a movable portion of said weight sensing mean so as to be movable in proportion to movement of the latter means and being connected to the movable indicator member to cause movement thereof in like proportion,

said scale carrying a datum adjacent said movable indicator member, said datum and indicator member together providing visible indication of weight on the platform,

and means for adjusting the position of said indicating mechanism support relative to said scale base and levers whereby such adjustment my move said biased mechanical linkage relative to said levers changing the relative position of the indicator membet and datum for adjusting the scale indication to zero with no weight thereon.

2. A platform scale, comprising:

a base, counter balanced levers bearing upon the base and a wei ht receiving platform supported upon said levers, said platform carrying a datum for use in visual observation of a-quantity of indicated Weight on the scale;

an indicating mecsanism having a rotatable indicator movable past said datum for visual indication of weight measure, a rack and pinion and associated bell crank with means biasing the same toward the levers for rotating the indicator in response to movement of the levers;

a support for the entirety of said indicating mechanism mounted upon portions of the base independent of and apart from said counterbalanced levers, and means for adjusting the position of the indicating mechanism support relative to the base and levers in a direction to move the rotatable indicator relative to the datum line While the platform and levers are at rest for bringing the dial to a zero reading Without weight upon the scale platform.

3. A bathroom platform scale, comprising:

a sheet metal base of generally rectangular configuration;

weight sensing means including interconnected levers bearing upon the base and supporting a weight receiving platform, said platform carrying a datum;

an indicating mechanism including a rotatable indicater for visual indication of weight measure, a pinion supporting the indicator, a rack in mesh with the pinion and an associated bell crank for rotating the indicator in response to the movement of the levers with means biasing the bell crank and rack to follow movement of such levers;

a support member extending over the base and mounting the indicating mechanism, said support member being secured to portions of the base independent of said interconnected levers, and means for manually adjustably elevating and lowering at least one end of the indicating mechanism support member relative to both the base and interconnected levers whereby the entire indicating mechanism may be moved relative to the levers for rotating the indicator 6 relative to the datum for bringing the weight meas- 5. A platform scale, comprising: ure indication to a zero reading without weight upon a base, a weight receiving paltforni, counterbalanced the scale platform. 7 r levers bearing on said base and supporting said 4. In a platform scale having a base and cooperating Weight receiving platform, levers thereon supporting a platform, means for adjust- 5 an indicating mechanism having a rotatable indicator ing a weight indicating mechanism to a zero reading for visual indication of weight measure, a pivotally Without weight on the platform, comprising: mounted bell crank and a connected rack and pinion an elongated Weight indicating mechanism support mounted and biased for rotating the indicator in remember secured to the base of the scale and having spouse to the movement of the levers, means for adjustably moving the support member 19 a sunport for the pivot of said bell crank. secured to relative to said base at at least one end of the supportions of the base independently of said counterport member; balanced levers, and means for adjustably moving a weight indicating mechanism including a dial supthe pivotal support of the bell crank relative to said ported solely by said support member, means for counterbalanced levers permitting biased pivoting of rotating said dial including linkage biased into con- 15 the bell crank during said adjustment thereby rotact with said cooperating levers for turning the dial tating said indicator to a desired indication of weight in response to deflection of such levers; on the platform.

said means for moving the support member including manually movable threaded means engaging said Regcgwces GEM in the file of this Patent support member and base for raising and lowering 20 UNlTED STATES PATENTS said support member to change the position of said 1,982,939 wgber 13% 4 1934 biased linkage relative to said base and levers per- 2,175924 Hansen Oct 1939 mitting said linkage to move to remain in biased 2 741 473 11 APL 19, 5 contact with the levers thereby turning the dial 2,9 ,329 Hanssen 15 19 0 without weight deflection of the levers permitting 3,022,845 Provi Feb. 27, 1962 selective adjustment of the dial to a zero reading. 3,077,941 Hansen Feb 19, 1963 

1. A PLATFORM SCALE, COMPRISING: A SCALE BASE; WEIGHT SENSING MECHANISM SUPPORTED ON SAID BASE INCLUDING LEVERS PIVOTED ON THE BASE, A WEIGHT SUPPORTING PLATFORM CARRIED ON THE LEVERS AND SPRING SUSPENSION MEANS FOR THE LEVERS PROVIDING MOVEMENT OF THE LEVERS RELATIVE TO THE BASE IN PROPORTION TO THE MAGNITUDE OF WEIGHT PLACED UPON THE PLATFORM; AN INDICATING MECHANISM FOR VISUALLY INDICATING THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM AND A SUPPORT THEREFOR MOUNTED IN THE SCALE BASE, SAID INDICATING MECHANISM INCLUDING A MOVABLE WEIGHT INDICATOR MEMBER, MECHANICAL LINKAGE MEANS BIASED INTO CONTACT WITH A MOVABLE PORTION OF SAID WEIGHT SENSING MEANS SO AS TO BE MOVABLE IN PROPORTION TO MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER MEANS AND BEING CONNECTED TO THE MOVABLE INDICATOR MEMBER TO CAUSE MOVEMENT THEREOF IN LIKE PROPORTION, SAID SCALE CARRYING A DATUM ADJACENT SAID MOVABLE INDICATOR MEMBER, SAID DATUM AND INDICATOR MEMBER TOGETHER PROVIDING VISIBLE INDICATION OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM, AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF SAID INDICATING MECHANISM SUPPORT RELATIVE TO SAID SCALE BASE AND LEVERS WHEREBY SUCH ADJUSTMENT MAY MOVE SAID BIASED MECHANICAL LINKAGE RELATIVE TO SAID LEVERS CHANGING THE RELATIVE POSITION OF THE INDICATOR MEMBER AND DATUM FOR ADJUSTING THE SCALE INDICATION TO ZERO WITH NO WEIGHT THEREON. 